Diaphragm construction



Aug., 21, 1951 HoRNBosTEl.

DIAPHRAGM CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 20, 1947 :.erz DP Patented ug. 21,A1951 fr' FFICEE 2,564,69` mannaggia'iCoN'siritUefrIoNi LloydHrneostenniit, Wis., assigne; to' Bereit" Iron At/"Vorka Beloit, `Wis.,a corporation ofi/Visappiieauonaegesmo, lsinfseriai No. V769:151 3 4oiafms "(ol. 13?;157'5' Thisinventionrelatesto diaphragmsforpumps-v tosuchv use, beinsgenerally suitable in any instal-fA lation where rubbertype diaphragms are involved. In accordancey with this inventionnon-iibrous flexible sheet material` like rubben;` plastics; and

the-like, is moldedwithber cords embedded .therein in-spaced radiallyextending relation. The

cordspreferably radiate from a circle-"surrounding thecenter of thediaphragm-to vthe periphery of the diaphragm and follow theconfiguration of. the diaphragm. The periphery of the diaphragm can.have fabric material-- embedded vtherein to forrndareinforced rimforclamping lin a.unit.

,Heretofre rubber diaphragms `have been rein;A

fofrce'dwithy woven fabio material but flexing 4of thediaphragms inoperation Vproducesa 'saw- -akction'on'the woven threads ofthe fabric,This sawing action soon weakens Athefabric reinfocement'and bursting ofthediaphragm is like-.

1y. `In"I addition, flexingv of thediaphragm in direction must cau-sestretching.- of some threads in a .woven fabric sheet.I This undulyloads the" threads, causing learly y fatigue.r andi rsulting"diaphragmfailure.A The present infl ven'ton', on the other handcempletely elimi-vhates sawinghfactionbecause the radiallyextrding'i'crds are embedded inthe rubber in spaced` relation from Veach other and cannot Contact -"each .other veventhough the diaphragm is"ba` ':lly,l distorted'.In'ailditiofr'igk theradially exf te'riliiig.fcods4 arenot subjectedftothe extensive len'gthlchJrigf'girigv action'.` encountered` bythethreads ina woven `fabric'andare only subjected toradial loadsproducing tensilenstresses therein. These tensile strss'es'areeffectivelyA resisted by` cords since cords arebe'st'equippedto'carr'y'tensile loads.: Since the cords follow the configuratiorrofthe diaphragm without lbeing'loaded duringthe manufacture of thediaphragm, they are not subjectedto thevdistortingand stretchingloads4encountered by the fabric material during? vidual cordsfor" fibrous'material suchas'- string,- l 5"` the'courseofv manufacture of thediaphragm.. Puckeringrlocal stretching,- and 'the like objec-r tionablemolding-conditions always present in the molding of fabric material intoa diaphragm, are

` entirely lacking in the molding of reinforcing, cords arrangedinaccordance with the present` invention.

It is.' then,-an'object of the invention topro vide a:diaphragmconstruction reinforced with individual strands in spacedrelation from each.

other;

Another' object of the inventionfisvto provide'- iiexible,v -non-broussheet material having indirop'e; or the 'like vembedded therein'in'spa'ced relationship 'from' each other;

AnotherV object'of theinvention4V is to provide a 'ri'ibber-type'Vdiaphragm vwith radially extend-A in'goids' embedded' in the rubberin'spaced relation' from each other.'

A` further'object'of lthe invention is' to `provide ai exible diaphragm"construction having: vbercoiids' embedded-in the sheet material of thecon= structionl `and -extendi'ngvradially 'thereof from 11acircle'surrounding the axial center offthe con"` struction tovthe-'periphery of'` the construction.

Anotherfobject of''the `inventic'm is to provide a 'rubber diaphragm forpapermachineryand the' like composed of a sheet Yof rubber havingindividual radially extending cords' embedded therein Vandrings offabric material embedded therein around the` periphery thereof.v

otherand futhereejeets of the invention wur bei apparent-`to'those'skilled inthe 'art from thefollowing detailed descriptionyofA 'the annexedsheet of "drawings which, by wayof a preferred*y exampleonly, illustrates one embodiment of the invention.

On the"'dra'wings":'

Figur'ejlis a vertical cross-sectionalview of aY roll-loading diaphragmunit of the type disclosed in rnylaforesaid copending application'SerialNo. ll'lg'm'butieqipped with a rubber diaphragm in accordance with thisinvention.

FigurelZ'is a plan View of the diaphragm of the unit of VFigure l with apart cutaway and shownin horizontal cross section to illustrate embeddedmaterialin the diaphragm.

Figure 3 is a diametric cross-sectional view of the diaphragm takenalong the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional viewof .thevdiaphragmtaken along the line IV-IVr of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 the diaphragm unit I0 is of the type disclosed in myaforesaid copending application Serial No. 607,728 and includes a jackrod II seated in a socket I2 of a top casing member I3. This casingmember I3 has an annular flange I4 therearound. A diaphragm I5 of thisinvention is preferably clamped against the bottom face of the casing I3by means of a clamping ring I6 attached to the flange I4 by screws I'I.The ring I6 has a recess I8 in its top face around the inner peripherythereof receiving the outer peripheral margin of the diaphragm I5.

The central portion of the diaphragm I is clamped between a disk I9 andthe disk face 20 of a post member 2l. Screws such as 22 extend throughthe disk I9, the diaphragm I5. and the upper portion of the post 2l. Aflanged plate 24 is carried by the post and has an upwardly dlrectedperipheral flange 25 circumscribing the casing I3. A spring assemblycomposed of ilat leaf springs such as 26 is secured to the ring I6 andto the post 2l. The spring maintains the casing I3 centered relative tothe post 2l and plate 24.

Fluid such as air under pressure is admitted to the chamber 2"! abovethe diaphragm I5 in the casing I3 by means of an inlet pipe 28.

The diaphragm I5 is loaded by air under pressure in the chamber 21 andthe j-ack rod II is operated until the diaphragm assumes its normalposition. The unit I is thereupon effective to transmit the desiredloading pressure to a roll or other member attached to the post 2l.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the diaphragm I5 is composed ofnon-fibrous impervious flexible sheet material such as rubber, plasticor the like. The diaphragm I5 is circular and has a radially extendingperipheral marginal portion Ia with an undercut tapered bottom face I5b.The marginal portion 15a extends inwardly to a rounded upstanding sidew-all portion I5c. This portion (5c continues to a semi-circular beadportion I5d. The bead portion surrounds a flat bottom I5e. The normalconfiguration of the diaphragm therefore is in the general shape of aflanged saucer with a raised central flat bottom portion surrounded by agroove. The flat bottom I5e is between the bottom of the bead ld and theflange IEa.

Two flat rings 33 and 3l of woven fabric material such as canvas areimbedded` in spaced superimposed relation in the flange portion I5@ ofthe diaphragm. These fabric rings reinforce the rim of the diaphragm toprovide a somewhat rigid clamp ring periphery. The tapered face I5b ofthe flange is deformed into a flat shape when the clamping ring I6 istightened against it. The taper is desirable to insure firm contactbetween the sealing ring and diaphragm so that leakage around theperiphery of the diaphragn will not occur. The diaphragm has a pluralityof radially extending cords 32 embedded in the bottom Iie, the bead ld,and the side wall 55e thereof. These cords 32 extend radially outwardfrom a small circle 33 in the center of the flat wall lie of thediaphragm. The cords follow the configuration of the bead ld and sidewall I5c and. extend into the flange I5a but terminate in spacedrelation from the fabric rings 3G and 3l. As shown in Figure 3, thecords 32 are preferably midway between the faces of the diaphragm so asto be equally covered on opposite faces with diaphragm material.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the cords 32 are in spaced relationfrom each other and are completely surrounded by the rubber or otherbody material of the diaphragm.

The cords can be threads, strings, ropes, or the like twisted fibrousmaterial capable of resisting tensile loads. Since each cord iscompletely isolated from another cord, no sawing of one cord on anothercan occur. Further, since the cords are initially molded into the shapeof the diaphragm and can assume this shape without being stretched, theyare not subjected to elongation or tensile loads. As the diaphragmilexes in operation, the cords are deformed only along their length andare not subject to twisting or other severing conditions.

The size of the inner circle 33 from which the cords radiate should besuillciently large so that the inner ends of the cords do not engageeach other. 4

In operation of the diaphragm the inner ends of the cords are clampedbetween the post 2l and clamping plate I9 while the outer ends of thecords are clamped between the casing I3 and the clamping ring I6. Thecords thereby form a myriad of strand-like bridges between the parts ofthe diaphragm unit IB. These bridges only flex along their lengthsduring operation of the unit and are not subjected to kinking actionstending to form creases and fatigue cracks therein.

From the above descriptions it will be clear that the invention providesa diaphragm construction wherein radially extending strands or cordsserve to reinforce the main body of the diaphragm without interferingwith the :flexibility of the body material or tending to alter themolded shape of the material.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A diaphragm comprising a sheet of rubber having a radially extendingflange portion, an upstandting side wall extending inwardly from theflange portion, a rounded bead at the bottom of the side wall and a flatbottom spaced inwardly from the side wall at a level above the bottom ofthe bead, cords embedded in the rubber extending radially outward from acircle at the central portion of the flat bottom through the bead andside wall into the flange but terminating short of the outer peripheryof said flange, said cords being in isolated relation to each other andcompletely covered by the rubber material, and a fibrous ring embeddedin said flange portion in close proximity tc the terminal ends of saidcords.

2. A diaphragm comprising a disk of rubberlike material, rings of wovenfabric embedded in the peripheral margin of said material insuperimposed spaced relation, and radially extending fibrous cordsembedded in the body of said material extending radially outward fromthe central portion of the disk into closely spaced relation with thefabric rings.

3. A diaphragm comprising a sheet of rubber having a radially extendingflange portion, said flange portion further including annularly shapedfabric material embedded therein, said fabric together with said flangeportion constituting an integral clamping ring for said diaphragm, an

upstanding wall portion extending inwardly from said flange portion, arounded bead extending inwardly from said wall portion, a flat circularcentrally disposed bottom portion spaced inwardly of said round bead anddefining a plane at a level above the bottom of the bead, a, pluralityof radially extending cords embedded in said diaphragm and arranged inisolated spaced relationship to one another, said cords extendingradially out- Ward from points lying substantially within said flatcircular bottom portion, through said bead and wall portion andextending substantially into said ange portion in closely spacedrelation to said annularly shaped fabric material whereby said bottomand flange portions of said diaphragm may be clamped to form a myriad ofstrand-like bridges flexible along their lengths.

4. A diaphragm comprising a sheet of rubber having a radially extendingflange portion, said flange portion adapted to dene an undercut taperedbottom face and having annularly shaped fabric material embeddedtherein, said fabric material together with said ange portionconstituting an integral deformable clamping ring on said diaphragm, anupstanding wall portion extend-y ing inwardly from said ange portion, arounded bead extending inwardly from said wall portion, a iiat circularcentrally disposed bottom portion spaced inwardly of said round head anddefining v a plane at a level above the bottom of the bead,

a plurality of radially extending cords embedded in said diaphragm andarranged in isolated spaced relationship to one another, said cordsextending radially outward from points lying substantially within saidiiat circular bottom portion through said bead and wall portion andextending substantially into said ilange portion but terininating shortof said fabric material, whereby said bottom and ila-nge portions ofsaid diaphragm may be clamped to form a myriad of strand-'like bridgesflexible along their lengths.

LLOYD HORNBOSTEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 212,488 Mounteney Feb. 18, 18791,790,206 Farmer Jan. 27, 1931 2,380,983 Mock Aug. 7, 1945 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 419,200 Great Britain of 1934

